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The 8 Best Low Cost Alternatives To Hardwood Flooring in 2020

globaltrendsint@gmail.com (jonathan otto) — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 22:23:53 GMT

The 8 Best Low Cost Alternatives To Hardwood Flooring in 2020

Here are The 8 Best Low Cost Alternatives To Hardwood Flooring

Engineered Wood
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Cork Flooring
Bamboo Flooring
Laminate Flooring
Plywood Planks
Tile Flooring
Carpet Squares
Linoleum

Who doesn’t love the appearance of hardwood flooring?

The natural brilliance, the quality, and the perfect shade of brown perfectly complement any home and decor.

So, why doesn’t everyone have hardwood flooring in their homes?

The price!

The average cost for hardwood flooring (natural), runs between $6 to $22 per square foot.

For a 3,000 square foot home, you’re looking at a minimum of $6,000 to over $60,000 if you’re installing hardwoods in every room of the home.

Most homeowners can’t afford this, so they turn to alternatives.

When selecting an alternative to hardwood floors, what’s the best option?

It depends on a few factors. These include

How natural you want the floors to look
How simplistic a design you’re looking for The amount you’re willing to pay for installation
Where you live and how much local contractors charge for installation.
How many rooms you plan on installing these alternative flooring materials into, and other factors.

In this piece, we’ll help you choose the best alternative to natural hardwood floors. We have eight excellent alternatives that look and feel like hardwood, minus the expensive price tag.

What are your Flooring Alternatives?

Okay, if you’re in the camp of homeowners who loves the appearance of natural hardwood floors, but not the price, we have excellent alternatives for you to consider. These are eight great materials that mimic the appearance of hardwood floors, but don’t cost nearly as much to install (or maintain for that matter) in the home.

Engineered Wood

As the name implies, engineered wood floors are manufactured with multiple layers to create a thicker appearance, that is similar in appearance, texture, and thickness, as traditional hardwood floors.

They both appear Beautiful and natural Are durable (hardwood is real wood vs engineered floors are composite material_Both are durable (the veneer finish on engineered floors determines how durable)

You also need to clean both materials regularly to maintain their brilliance and shine.

A primary benefit of engineered wood, apart from the price, is the fact that it doesn’t expand or contract.

It retains its shape well over the years.

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Vinyl floors are another great alternative to hardwoods. They’re cheaper, easier to maintain, however, they aren’t as durable as hardwood flooring.

Hardwood flooring is durable (the stronger the wood the more durable it is); conversely, vinyl scratches easily and can be dented if too much pressure is applied onto the floors.

A primary factor in driving homeowners to choose vinyl is the price.

You might pay $2 to $10 (based on location) for vinyl; hardwood floors can cost three times as much.

Vinyl is easy to install (there are peel and stick varieties) and holds up well over time.

It’s easy to clean, however, it doesn’t retain the resale value nearly as well as hardwoods do.

It’s not a replacement, but a nice alternative if you’re on a tight budget and ready to install new floors and can’t afford hardwoods.

Cork Flooring

This alternative is good for playrooms, dining rooms, or other high-traffic areas in your home. It’s durable, however, it can dent/ding easily because it is softer than hardwood flooring.

You can refinish the material and seal it to help safeguard the outermost layer. Cork is prone to punctures/damage if you have pets in the home with long nails/claws.

The price to install is about $1 to $3 per square foot, and the price for the material is about $5 to $7 per square foot.

It’s durable, and can easily last 25 to 30 years, and possibly a little longer if you maintain/clean the floors regularly.

Cork’s resale value is higher than materials like laminate or vinyl but doesn’t retain as much value as hardwood floors do. Check out The Definitive Guide to Cork Flooring they wrote a wonderfull article on Cork Flooring

Bamboo Flooring

We love bamboo as an alternative to hardwood flooring.

It’s probably the most expensive alternative we’ve listed, at about $10 per square foot.

However, it’s also the strongest and as close to natural wood as it gets!

We like

How sustainable it is.

The fact that it’s easier to install and cheaper than hardwoods.

Easy to maintain and clean

Available in multiple finishes/stains, so it closely mimics natural wood

It’s as close as you can find in comparison to natural wood, only it’s a little cheaper. It doesn’t last as long as hardwood flooring will, however.

You can expect 25 to 50 years, depending on the quality of the bamboo, how it’s installed, and how well homeowners maintain it in their homes.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate wood floors are made of composite wood that a manufacturer presses together under high heat pressure settings.

This process helps bond the wood and secure the wood panels to preserve the shape and texture.

The process then calls for an image/replica of the hardwood grain to be pressed onto the heated laminate panels, to mimic the appearance of natural wood floors.

Laminate is

Durable and resists scratches well
Good in high-traffic areas and is easy to maintain
Fade-resistant so it’s good in light/bright areas
Additionally, it costs a fraction of the price of hardwood floors.
You can find manufactured laminate wood for as low as $3 per square foot.

Plywood Planks

The use of plywood planks is another alternative to consider if hardwood floors are too expensive for your home. Different exposure grades are waterproof and can resist weather/sun damage well.

Furthermore, you can treat plywood planks and seal the material, to help preserve it and extend its life.

A primary benefit of plywood is the low price.

You can get a 4×8 sheet for as low as $22; this comes out to under $2 per square foot.

Even with the best contractor and highest labor costs, the total price will end up closer to $2K or less when installing this material in comparison to the $6K (plus) cost for hardwood floors.

Tile Flooring

Tile

You can install tile planks that appear like hardwood floors if you want to maintain the natural look without the high price tag.

Tile is scratch proof, waterproof, and it comes in many shades, wood grains, and designs, so you can pair it with any decor/style you choose.

It’s easy to install and can be installed almost anywhere, including areas where moisture levels are high.

The primary drawback is that the tile is rough, cold, and doesn’t retain heat nearly as well as natural wood.

It can also chip/crack and isn’t a good insulation barrier (you’ll hear creaks and noise transfer).

If you’re not looking to spend much and want something easy to install, readily available, and affordable, wood tile panels are a good solution.

Carpet Squares

Believe it or not, you can buy carpet squares that resemble hardwood/wood floors. The carpet squares run as low as $2 per square foot.

They’re easy to maintain, they’re available in peel and stick varieties, or you can just affix them onto the underlay in rooms where you previously had carpet installed in.

An obvious drawback is that it’s easy to see the squares are carpet up close; however, from a distance, if you buy high-quality squares, they appear natural wood floors.

We like this option for

High traffic areas in your home

A play or kids room

Bedrooms (carpet’s warmer than tile/wood)

Although it won’t replace the brilliance, appearance, or luxury of hardwood floors, it might be a short-term solution and a way to save while maintaining the same flooring appearance/finish, in all rooms of your home.

It’s at least worth considering and comparing different carpet panel varieties, as many of them are truly spectacular in the detail/design, and how similar they appear to wood flooring.

Linoleum

Linoleum—the classic and inexpensive standby—is coming back in style with its wide variety of designs and colors, including options that simulate wood or stone. Durable and comfortable underfoot, this easy-to-clean material makes itself at home in almost any room of the house.

Questions About Hardwood Alternatives

Q: What is Engineered Flooring and is it a good alternative?

A: Engineered flooring is made with thin layers of wood; these layers are fused to appear similar in form and texture to hardwood flooring.

You can purchase them in planks or strips. You can install it in any area of your home (basement, ground level, attic, etc.)

You can install it on any surface

It can be installed in varying temperatures/regions

It’s easy to maintain and preserves it forms well over the years

Homeowners like how easy it is to take care of, and the fact that it’s much cheaper than natural hardwood flooring. If the engineered material is thick enough you can even refinish or re purpose it.

Some types of engineered flooring materials do become damp and are susceptible to warping; therefore, you’ll want to preserve these finishes with weather or seal roofing finishes, to help maintain the integrity/durability over time.

Q: What do I have to consider when choosing the flooring alternatives?

A: It’s not as easy as saying

“I want vinyl because it’s cheap and easy to care for.”

For some homeowners, it might be this simple.

But, this is not the best approach to take when you’re choosing a flooring alternative. Apart from price, you’ll want to consider

Who to hire for installation (the company should have experience installing the material you choose to purchase/install)

The price per square foot

Whether the installation contractor guarantees and warrants their work

How susceptible the floors are to dampness/moisture, warping, damage, scratching, etc.How easy the floors are to care for and how many years they will last

We can continue with this list.

It’s important to consider everything.

Yes, price is important.

But, if you’re choosing an alternative to hardwood floors, it’s obvious you value quality, design, and the excellent look/finish that hardwood flooring produces in the home.

So, you need to consider all relevant factors, not just the cost, when choosing the flooring alternatives.

Ready for New Flooring?

We hope this serves as a great guide to help you decide what flooring materials are the best option if you can’t afford hardwood floors.

All of these alternatives have a similar appearance, will blend in well with your home and decor, and they’re also much cheaper, making them a more attainable option for most households to consider when installing new flooring.

Let our team of professionals at Calabrese Flooring Co help you decide on your new flooring material and install it in your home. Call us or contact us today for a quote, and to have our specialists start the installation process today!

ARE YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS ALWAYS DUSTY? HERE’S WHAT TO DO.

globaltrendsint@gmail.com (jonathan otto) — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 22:20:09 GMT

ARE YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS ALWAYS DUSTY? HERE’S WHAT TO DO.

Is there a way to keep the dust bunnies away?

Hardwood floors are easy to spot dust buildup. Many years of dealing with hardwood floors has created results!

Are your hardwood floors always dusty? Here’s what to do. Start by choosing the right mop or vacuum to clear away the dust, paired with top notch detergents and essential oils to keep dust and debris at bay!

Must-Have Cleaning Tools for Wood Floors

Simple changes to your cleaning routine and the tools can make all the difference in the care and upkeep of your wooden floors and keep down dust! For instance, microfiber can be magic to your wood and keep it manageable and clean.

Cleaning Tools

Cleaning Tools
Reusable Dust Mop
Broom
Vacuum
Spray Mop

Reusable Dust Mop

1. Reusable Dust Mop
Use a reusable mop such as O-Cedar dust mop . These are wonderful for a multifunctional dust mop that can be used over and over again by simply throwing the cover in the washer. No need for the old fashioned way.
The wrong choice in a mop will do nothing but move your dirt and debris around, the right mop will trap and cut down on dust. The reusable dust mop can be used dry as a broom, or spray your chosen cleaner on the floor and mop accordingly.

Another great tip for these types of mops is they can also be used on your walls to catch any flyaway dust bunnies! Of course, there are other options of dust mops for hardwood floors to suit different styles and preferences such as a microfiber mop.

The microfiber mops come highly recommended for wooden floors because they are soft and gentle on the wood and will not scratch or damage hardwood floors.

2. The Broom

You would not think the type of broom you choose is a big deal, but it can make a noticeable difference. If the broom is too rough, it can further damage wood floors and leave cracks and crevices for the dust to fall in and build up. Angled brooms get into the corners and creases well, such as the O-Cedar broom , and some people prefer the heavy-duty B ristle Brooms.

3. Vacuums

The Vacuum is a staple in every household regardless if you own wood, carpet, or laminate flooring. Some vacuums include:

Everyday vacuum
Pet vacuums
Wet/dry vacuums
Robot vacuums

This choice could make all the difference. The newest craze is the wet/dry vacuum that can mop and vacuum all at once, such as the Bissell Crosswave .

Another favorite vacuum would be the robot vacuum or Roomba! These do not take up as much space as your traditional vacuum and are primarily made for hard floors such as wood, tile, or laminate. These cute little cleaners make fun conversation starters as well as family entertainment for babies and animals.

4. Spray Mops

Spray mops are another versatile cleaning tool for hardwood floors. There is the more popular spray mop such as the Swifter Wet Jet , which comes with premade cleaners including one made specifically for hardwood floors. Then there is the more versatile option of a wet jet mop where you can fill with homemade cleaning solutions. O-Cedar makes a S pray Mop that has the washable microfiber pad which is prime for hardwood floor upkeep.

Cleaning Products

Everyone knows you get what you pay for, if you buy cheap cleaning products you will most likely get cheap results. The following products have been tried and true for many years.

Wood Oil Cleaner
Vinegar, water, essential oils
Dish soap and water
Tea Bags, lemons, olive oil

1. Wood Oil Cleaner

Wood oil cleaners are made up of a mixture of soap and oil. Murphy’s oil soap has been around for decades and is an affordable top of the line, plant-based cleaner. This cleaner is versatile and can be used not only on wooden floors but also on other wooden furniture and contains no ammonia or bleach. Other popular wood oil soaps would be:

Bona
Orange Glo
Pledge

Some cleaners will leave behind a slick or almost sticky residue and you will find yourself cleaning more often, some like Bona may be harder to find and cost a little more. The more natural, biodegradable ingredients the better, so it is recommended to pay close attention to ingredients.

2. Vinegar, Water, and Essential Oils

This option is a low cost, fragrant, and eco-friendly way to keep floors clean, sanitized, and shiny. The recipe for this cleaner is simple!

½ cup of White Vinegar
1 Gallon of Water
3 to 6 drops of essential oil or oils of choice

Cedar Oil is a natural wood derived oil that is known to repel spiders and other unwanted creepy crawlers, as well as the following:

Tea Tree
Peppermint
Lemon
Lavender
Thieves

Thieves oil is a natural antibacterial oil, immune system booster, and smells like Christmas with the ingredients

Lemon
Clove
Eucalyptus
Cinnamon
Rosemary

Essential oils are all-natural and have many uses. Keep in mind they are meant to be used diluted, a few drops can get the job done. These oils can be found with companies such as Plant Therapy, Young Living, and Doterra.

3. Dish Soap & H20

Dish soap mixed with water is readily available and a super low budget mix for an easy homemade cleaning solution with very few ingredients.

Dawn dish soap is a highly rated dish soap when used in moderation for a floor cleaner it can do a fabulous job.

A couple of tablespoons are enough when added to a bucket of water. Using a dish soap that has added moisturizers can leave you with a slippery surface and left behind residue.

4. Household Scraps

Using household items or scraps such as:

Lemons
Black tea bags
Olive oil

These are fewer known options for cleaning dusty hardwood floors, yet rank up with the best of the floor treatments!

Lemons can be added to vinegar and strained for a scented vinegar cleaning solution. Typically you would let the lemon peels sit in the vinegar for a couple of weeks or even up to a month. Adding lemon peels to vinegar can help hide the strong pungent scent that deters most people from using it.

Don’t forget to strain after letting sit! Lemon is a natural astringent and can be mixed with water and a little olive oil as a cleaning agent, but if done wrong could leave the floor slippery!

Olive oil is a great assist in hydrating dry spots on the wood that may be worn and used in high traffic areas. Simply wet a rag with the oil and rub on the area in a circular motion.

Black Tea as a floor cleaning agent can help darken the wood, as well as sanitize! Who would have thought tea bags could be utilized as a floor cleaner! This may not be the most popular choice, but in pinch perhaps just right!

Can Different Types of Wood Effect Dust Buildup?

When thinking of wood flooring one might ask, can different types of wood repel dust and debris better than others? Wood flooring may come in:

Oak
Maple
Hickory
Walnut
Cherry
Rosewood
Pine

Each type of wood flooring has a different shade and shine. While the appearance is different, the care routine is the same. But, can different types of wood affect dust buildup? The answer is No. It is all about your care routine and the upkeep of the wood.

If you have hardwood floors that are always dusty, implement these tips and tricks, giving your wood floors the TLC they need will surely keep down the dust, debris, and dander that can easily build up. Wood floors are easier to keep clean, low allergy, and altogether beautiful.